Game apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheen 1 R. S. 8v P. B. CROOKS. GAME APPARATUS.

Patented Deo. 14,1897.

IIIII (No Model.) 2 S11eets-Set 2.

R. S. 8v F. B. CROOKS. GAME APPARATUS.

N0. 595,372. Patented Dec. 14,1897.

Y UNITED- STATES' PATENT FFicF.

ROBERT s. OROOKS AND FRANK B. cRooKs, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.-

GAM E APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,372, dated December14, 1897. Application filed April 12, 1897. Serial No. 631,723.- (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that we, ROBERT S. OROOKS and FRANK B. OROOKS, citizens ofthe United States,residing at San Francisco,in the county of SanFrancisco and State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Game Apparatus; and we do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Our presentinvention relates to certain new and useful improvements uponthe game apparatus fully shown and described in the application forLetters Patent filedby us in the United States Patent Office on the 22dday of October, 1896, Serial No. 609,636; and it consists, moreespecially, in the mechanism for shuffling or mixing the cards withinthe shuffling-compartment during the movement of the swinging orrotating frame; and it conslsts in the arrangementof parts and detailsof construction, as will be hereinafter fullyv set forth in the drawingsand described and pointed out in the specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus having two ormore shuffling and display boxes for` the cards so arranged that a lineof cards of only one shuffling-box is thrown into view and displayed ata time, it being required to release certain lock mechanism before thedevice can beV rotated or swung over to bring the second box into viewto expose a new hand of cards, the swinging of lthe boxes operating therotating shufiing devices, which give a positive shuffle to the cardscontained in the shuffling-compartment of the box being swung over toexpose a hand or line of cards to the operator or player of the deviceor game.

In order to understand the invention, reference must be had to theaccompanying sheets of drawings, forming a part ofthis application,wherein- Figure l is an end View in elevation of the machine, partlybroken away. Fig. 2 is a front view inv elevation, showing one of theboxes partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the base-box,partly broken away, the lock mechanism being shown as closed. Fig. 4 isa similar View disclosing the lock mechanism in open position. ,-Fig. 5is a bottom plan View of one of the shuffling-boxes of the Swingin gframe, disclosing the mechanism for imparting rotary motion to thecard-shufiiing pins; and Fig. 6 is a plan View of one of theshuffling-boxes with its face-plate removed, the bottom plate beingpartly broken away to disclose the shuffling mechanism.

In the drawings the letter A is used to indicate the base-box of themachine, from which upwardly extend the side standards A. Between thesestandards is mounted to swing the rotatable casing or frame, which inthe present case consists of three shuffling-boxes B B B2, each placedat an incline and attached to longitudinal edge pieces B3, so as toprovide a triangular-shaped casing or frame, the

'ends of the boxes being closed by the triangular end plates C C'. Weprefer to use a triangular-shaped swinging frame, although any desiredshape may be employed.

Each shuffling-box is composed of the top and bottom plates l 2, whichin the present case are united at their upper and lower ends to thelongitudinal edge pieces B3. These plates are held a suitable distanceapart to give ample room therebetween for the shuffling of the cards.The arrangement of each box and its shufliing mechanism for the cards isthe Same. one will answer for the others.

The lower portion of the top plate l of each box is cut away, so as toprovide a transverse opening through which the cards may be exposed Orviewed, said opening being closed or covered by a glass plate 3, held inplace by the frame 4, secured to the plate 1 in any suitable manner.

Within the shuffling-box are secured the vertically-extending ribs Orpartition-iingers a a, which may be formed integral with the bottom ortop plate of the shuffling box. These ribs or fingers divide the lowerportion of the shufliing-box into a series of separate compartments b6'192 b3 b4, which compartments receive and hold the shufied cards, Theribs or partition-fingers do not extend the full height of theshuffling-box, but' only part way. Consequently the upper interiorportion of each box is divided into an enlarged card-shufiing chamber orcompartment D.

Immediately above, at the side, each of the card-holding compartments bb' b2 b3 b4 is lo- Consequently the description of IOO cated a pin orstud d, downwardly projecting from the top plate l, around which pins orstuds revolve the pins or studs d', inwardly projecting into theshufiiing-box through the circular openings d2 cut through the bottomplate 2. The pins or studs d are secured to and carried by areciprocatingrectilinear rod D', located and working at the rear face ofthe bottom plate 2. This rod D is eccentrically connected to thecam-wheel D2, mounted upon the axle D2, working in bearings of the frameE, which is bolted to the rear face of the bottom plate 2. Upon the axleD3 is secured the pinion E, .with which meshes the gear E2, mounted uponthe axle E2, working in bearing of the frame E. To the axle E2 issecured the pinion F, with which meshes the rack end of the lever F,fulcrumed to the frame by the shaft F2. This shaft F2 is connected to apost e by the coiled flat spring d, which winds or unwinds upon theshaft F2 during its movement. As the rack-lever F is thrown up or downthe gear E2, through pinion F, is caused to rotate, the motion of whichis transmitted to reciprocate the rod vD' through the medium of thegear-and-eccentric connection. The movement imparted to theeccentrically-connected rod D will cause the pins or studs d to rotatearound the fixed pins or studs d, which rotating pins or studs engagewith the cards contained in the enlarged shufiiing chamber orcompartment D and thoroughly shuffle or intermix the same prior to theirentrance into the compartments b ZJ' b2 b2 b4. The downward movement ofthe rack end of the fulcrumed lever F is limited by the projection orstop f, and that of the outer end is limited by the stop f', projectingfrom the rear face of the bottom plate 2. The mechanism foroperating theshuffling pins or studs for each box is the same as that just described.Consequently it need not be described.

The frame or casing is loosely mounted upon the shaft G, which extendsthrough the frame or casing and is secured within the side standards A.Upon the fixed shaft G within the frame or casin g there is secured,near the end plate C, a cam -plate G', with which the free or outer endof each rack-lever engages as the frame or casingis rotated. As theframe or casing is swung or turned over the free or outer end of lever Fen gages the end g of the cam-plate G and is forced upward as the frameor casing is carried over until carried past the edge of the cam-plate.As the outer end of the lever F is forced upward its inner end is throwndownward in order to operate the train of mechanism before described toimpart movement to the eccentrically-connected rod D to rotate the pinsor studs d in order to shufiie the cards. After clearing the end g ofthe cam-plate G the free end of the lever F rides on the face thereofuntil carried past the end g', when the tension of the spring e willimmediately throw the outer end of the lever downward, causing the innerend to move upward in order to impart an opposite throw, through theconnecting-gears, to the eccentrically-connected rod D'. The shufiingmechanism of each box is operated in the same manner as the free end ofthe fulcrumed rack-lever is carried past the cam G". Each longitudinaledge piece B3 is provided with a depending knob I-I, which is used as ahandle by which to swing or turn the casing or frame over and to operatethe lock mechanism of the base-box. This mechanism consists of alongitudinal spring-actuated slideplate H', mounted upon a bar H2,secured within the base-box, the slide being held outward by the tensionof the spiral spring H2. To the forward end of the slide -plate H' isconnected a cross-head K, which slides upon the platform K', inwardlyprojecting into the base-box from the receiver K2. To the under face ofthis platform at each side of the inner end are fulcrumed the arms 7L7L,which arms are provided with jaws h2 h3,which elnbrace the platformK. The arms 7L h are normally held closed by the tension of said springh, The disk or token j for releasing the lock mechanism is placed withinthe receiver through the guide j', extending therein. As the disk entersinto the receiver K2 through the guidej' it falls onto the platform K inadvance of the cross-head K. As the knob H during the rotation of theswinging frame or casing strikes against the stud .72, secured to theslide-plate ll', upwardly projecting through a slot formed in the top ofthe base-box, the slide-plate H is forced inward, the cross-head carriedthereby forcing the disk toward the inner end of the platform K'. Asmoved upon the platform the disk enters between the jaws h2 h2 andforces the same apart. The moment the disk is carried past the springactuated jaws they come together and cannot be opened until another diskis carried between the jaws. The cross-head cannot be moved forward toopen the jaws unless a disk is carried thereby, for if moved forward thestud 71,5, carried by the said cross-head, strikes against the forwardend of the jaws below the platform and holds the cross-head againstmovement. By the time the slide-plate has moved inwardly far enough forthe cross-heads to force lthe disk between the jaws h2 h3 the knob Hwill be carried past the stud j2 and the casing will be free to rotateuntil the knob of the next shuffling-box engages said stud, when theswinging casing will be closed against movement until a disk is placedin the receiver to release the lock mechanism.

In order that the cards entering into the compartments Z) ZJ b3 D willfall behind the front card, the lower or bottom plate of eachshuffling-box is inclined upwardlyjfrom the point 5 to 6, and from thepoint 6 to its lower edge is formed straight. The first card enteringthe compartments will rest against the lower straight portion of theplate 2, its upper end portion extending above the inclined portionrofthe plate. As the succeeding cards drop they will enter the compartmentsat the rear of the rst cards. The inclined portion vof the bottom plateof the box thus acts as a guide for the cards.

By formingan opening in the top of the A' base-box immediately over theplatform K and covering the same with glass any dispute as to whetherthe disk has' been placed within the receiver may be avoided, for thesame will show through the glass covering.

One way of playing the herein-described apparatus is to have a givennumber of pointssay a thousand-constitute a game, and the player rstscoring a thousand points wins the game. Each yhand of cards Vexposed bythe machine will have a given valuation in points, and by addingtogether or keeping accounts of the various points made by each playerthe score of each may be readily ascertained. One person or playershould act as what is known as the banker, and to each player he shoulddeal or deliver a certain number of disks, the object being to see whichplayer can make the highest number of points with a given number ofdisks or pieces to play with. In counting the hands we proceed about asfollows :v Any handdisplayed where the cards are in sequence and of onecolor from ten to ace will count, say, one thousand. Where the cards areall of one color, but below the ten spots in sequence, the count willbe, say, nine hundred points; if four cards of the same denominationabove the ten spots, eight hundred points; below the ten spots, sevenhundred and fifty points; all cards exposed being of the samecolor,seven hundred points 5 three cards of one denomination and two ofanother, six hundredpoints; three cards of one denomination, fivehundred points, the number of points being proportionately thus reducedin accordance as to whether the hand orcards exposed fall below the oneenumerated. The iirst player that scores one thousand points wins thegame.

Ina'smuch as one player acts as banker, he directs the play of the game.Consequently his decision is binding upon the balance of the players,and as he directs the play of each player and should keep the score,being a disinterested player, unfair playing is obviated.

Having thus described the invention, what I is claimed as new, anddesired to be protected by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a game apparatus, the combination with a swinging casing or framecomposed of y two or more shuffiing-boxes connected together, thecutting ribs or partitions secured within the lower portion of theshufliingboxes so as Ito provide display-compartments, and ashufiing-chamber in the upper portion of the boxes, of a series ofrotating shufflingfingers extending into said chamber, and mechanism forimparting rotary movement to said fingers as the casing or frameis'swung over or rotated. l

2. In a game apparatus, the combination with the casing or frame, havinga card-shuffling chamber formed thereinwithin which' the cards areshuffled and intermixed, the movable shuffling device extending intosaid chamber, and of mechanism for imparting motion to said shufflingdevice. v

3. In a game apparatus, the combination with a swinging frame or casing,having a card shuffiing and display chamber formed therein within whichcards are shuffled and intermixed, and a series of agitating orshuffling devices extending into said chamber, of mechanism forimparting motion to said devices during the movement of the casing orframe, and of suitable lock mechanism for controlling the swing ormovement of the frame or casing.

4. In a game apparat-us, the combination with the swinging frame orcasing, of the disk-controlled lock mechanism for controlling themovement of the frame or casing, a chamber formed therein within whichcards are shuffled and intermixed, a series of rotatingshuffling-fingers working within the said chamber, thereciprocating rodfor imparting rotary motion to the shufing-ingers, a fulcrumedrack-lever, gear connection between said lever and the reciprocatingrod, a shaft upon which the frame or casing is mounted to swing, and acam secured to said shaft with which the outer end of the fulcrumedrack-lever engages as the frame or casing is swung over.

5. In a game apparatus, the combination with a swinging shufIiing anddisplay box, of a chamber formed therein within which cards to bedisplayed are shuffled and intermixed, the movable card-shufflingdevices extending within said chamber, of mechanism for imparting motionto said devices during the swinging movement of the frame or casing, andof disk-controlled lock mechanism for controlling the movement of theswinging frame or casing.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures, in presence of twowitnesses, this 19th day of March, 1897.

ROBERT S. CROOKS. FRANK B. CROOKS. Witnesses: f N. A. Aoxnn, LEE- D.CRAIG.

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